Sunday Afternoon Jan. 31

I know I have been lax at this blog so I'll try to catch up for those of you who are interested.

Last Sunday, Lela made some oven spaghetti and we went to Paul's house to watch football.  It is always fun to be with the family even though Paul was on call and unable to be home.

Football Sunday

The week was pretty busy as we had great weather all week (temps in the mid to upper 70's),
so we worked on landscaping and screen doors. More on that later.

The Dish technician came and got both TVs working so we are able to get Turner Classic Movies, news channels, sports and local channels.  He actually place a dish in the yard for free.  He called it a temporary install, which means it was up to me to run the cables.  I passed them under the unit and brought them in through the wall the same as he would have done.  So we are happy with our TV situation.  Our AT&T signal, however, is weak so I have been complaining to them on a regular basis.  We'll see if that bears any fruit.

I still am unable to get my mail forwarded.  "John" from my home P.O. and I are becoming fast friends as we talk on a regular basis.  He doesn't know what the problem is as he has changed our address at home from business to residential.  He is doing further research...again, stay tuned.

For this sad story, keep in mind that it is 15 miles to Home Depot.  We bought two screen doors, one for the front and one for the back.  Tuesday I installed the back after carefully reading the direction.  All went well as I took great care to measure twice and cut once.  When it came to mounting the door closer, it did not work properly so it was a trip back to H.D..  They cheerfully gave me one that worked.

Back Screen Door

 

Thursday I opened the package for the front door.  It was damaged by a bad dent in the mounting channel. Back to H.D. for a refund.  We continued on to Lowe's to find a better door.  That was another 8 miles.  Lela didn't find a door there that she liked as well as the one we returned, so we went to another H.D. in Gilbert AZ. another 6 miles. There we found one in an intact package so we bought it and brought it home.  During this journey, Lela was shopping in the nurseries for plants.
All of this took most of the day. On Friday I installed the front door, again being very careful to do it correctly.  The door closer did not work.  Another trip to H.D. where they cheerfully gave me a closer that worked.  So after many hours on the road the doors are installed.

Front screen door

The Tuesday trip resulted in several plants being purchased.  The main plant was a tree to place in front of the West facing window to block the afternoon sun.  It is a Rosewood Sishoo, which we are told is a fast growing shade tree here.  There are several in the park and we like them.

View from west with new tree.

 

  Lela planted some Oleander in the breaks in the rail fence on the South side.while I was playing golf on Wednesday. When I returned I planted the tree. 

Oleander view of backside looking west

 

There was also one Waxleaf Ligustrum, and one Baja Fairy Duster.

Fairy Duster Flower

View north to south along back fence

We put the Texas cactus in the ground.  If you have followed us, this is the one leaf we broke from a plant in LaFeria TX 2 years ago.

 

  Lela also planted some flowers in pots and some seed in the ground.  We also dug up some Agave Chicks from some mature plants in the park and planted them on the South side to match the North side.

North side

North side potted flowers

Lela finished painting the wicker furniture

South side

 

We have had to cover everything today as the Phoenix temps are going to be in the low 30's the next two nights and we are rural so we expect to reach freezing here.  The snow level is expected to reach down to 3500 feet.  We are at 1550' here.

Wednesday I had my regular golf outing at Western Skies Golf Course. 
http://www.westernskiesgolf.com/  I was determined to better last week's score, which I did.  However it was a tale of two courses.  40 on the front which was 49 last week.  then it all went south.  50 on the back nine (46 last week), with four lost balls.  I couldn't hit the ball in the fairway.  My driver exited the premises as I hit four out of bounds.  I've got to do better next week. I did , however, win a skin for $10.00.

On Thursday we went to a Bible Study at a member's home.  It was very informative and the fellowship was great.  Next week I am leading a study on Acts 12.

Yesterday, Saturday we traveled to Tucson to visit with Lela's cousin Glenn and his wife Andrea.  They are staying in her father's home in Saddlebrook, AZ.  It is a beautiful area at the foot of Mount Lemon, on the North side of Tucson.

View of Mt. Lemon coming into Tucson

 

Mount Lemon from Glenn's front door, As kids Lela's parents took them up the mountain just to play in the snow.  Her dad, Air Force, was stationed in Tucson and Glenn came to stay with them for a time for his health.  They had fun in the valley playing in the sand then Mt. Lemon for the snow.  Best of both worlds!

 

  The house overlooks a golf course and is a most beautiful setting.  We had snacks on the patio and then Glenn grilled some chicken for dinner.  It was a great visit and a great day of reminiscing and catching up on everyone's life.

Glenn and Lela (Cousin's Day?)

Lela and Andrea

Paul and Glenn

I could live here!

This morning we went to our regular congregation in Queen Creek.  There are some wonderful folks who worship there.  We met one lady from Kirkwood who went to Cleveland High.  Afterwards we went to Buffalo Wild Wings with three other couples.

Monday Jan 18
Started off today with Belgian Waffles for breakfast.  Very tasty.  Then it was a honey-do day.  We hung pictures in the ranch and put some décor on the walls outside.

At the back (south) door

On the north wall

 

 

  I set up the yard art which was stored at  Paul's house since last spring. I'm sure he will miss it.

I spray painted some wicker furniture for our patio, but ran out of paint before it was Finished... another trip to Wal-Mart.

Bought paint today to finish the loveseat.

 

We walked around the park and visited with some of our friends from last year.
Having some steaks for dinner.

Tuesday Jan. 19
We spent the morning working around the ranch.  I put  a lawn glider together and some shelves for the shed.

Lela checking the glider

 

  Lela did laundry and cleaned house.

In the afternoon I went with Bruce, John and George to Las Colinas Golf club. http://www.lascolinasgolfclub.com/
Played reasonable after only playing once since August.  I was 47/41 for a total 88.  I was semi satisfied. 
Lela fixed tacos for supper.

Wednesday Jan 20
There are 7 men from the park who get together with some folks from other parks to form a sort of golf league on Wednesday morning.  I got in the group so that will probably be my regular outing.
We play at Indian Skies Resort,  http://www.westernskiesgolf.com/  I didn't play very well (49 / 46 for 95).  It didn't look very much like real golf..  I hope to do better next week.

The park had a chili cook off this afternoon so we went to the clubhouse for a free chili dinner.  now we are home for TV and relaxation.

Thursday Jan. 21
Today was a shopping day.  We bought the material to build our south side fence to match the one on the north side.  Also two outdoor carpets for our patio areas.  Home Depot loves us.  We should buy some stock.

I received a new smart card for the Dish Network and installed it.  It did not fix the problem.  After three phone calls and resets they finally decided to send a technician here Saturday morning,  Stay tuned...

The Post Office has contacted us with the news we can't forward your mail to AZ because you are at a business address.  I contacted my P O at home and they said nothing could be done to fix the situation.  I contacted the postal service by email today.  They replied with a phone number to call, which I did. They called my home P O and then I was told to resubmit the forward order in 24 hours and they will have changed my address back to residential.  Again, stay tuned...

Friday Jan. 22
I started at about 9 this morning building our South fence.  Ten Posts and ten rails.

Does anyone recognize Dad's auger post hole digger?

 

Under construction

Finished 5 individual sections.

 

I completed it at about noon.  All the tops are level and the posts are plumb.  Lela is thrilled to have it done. I guess tomorrow we'll begin the next project, screen doors.  They are in the truck waiting for me.

I tried to forward my mail again but was thwarted by the same "business address" designation.  I'll try tomorrow, again...stay tuned.

It was a beautiful day here as the temperatures reached 74 degrees.  I started in a sweatshirt and finished in a tee shirt. I see on the news there is a snow storm sweeping through the eastern part of the country.  I can see snow on the distant mountains from the back yard.

Out the back yard East view

 

Another view in the back yard tonight.

Sunday evening Jan. 17

Monday Jan.11
We worked around the house doing odds and ends and watching TV.  Patrick grilled chicken for dinner.

Drew came home Monday evening and had dinner with us and watched the National
championship football game. Alabama beat Clemson for the title.

Drew and Mom (Noel) 

Drew with Grandma (Lela)

G'ma , Drew & G'pa

Tuesday Jan. 12
It hasn't rained for a few days so we helped to empty a $200.00  per month storage locker.

Patrick in the locker

Every job needs a foreman!

We took most of the boxes stored there to the garage at home. Patrick has a (30 foot ?) flatbed trailer and it was fully loaded. The driveway had dried out enough so we didn't have the muddy situation as bad as previous days.

Wednesday Jan. 13
We returned to the storage and moved the furniture stored there to the garage at home.  Later we went to Huntsville, TX to see Drew's house.  He shares it with three other fraternity brothers.

G;ma, Drew and Mom in front of his house.

Drew and his dog, Bailey

Out for dinner at Fajita Jack's Mexican restaurant. http://fajitajacks.com/

Fajita Jack's

Lela and Paul with the 3 amigos in the background.

It is Nicolas' birthday (14) today.  We will celebrate in AZ on Saturday.

$1,000,000,000.00 ...Looser

(that's 1.5 BILLION)

 

Thursday Jan. 14
We arose at 4:00 AM to leave for AZ when Noel left for work.  We said our good-by and prepared for a long day in the truck.  We set the AZ border as our goal, with the idea to see how we felt about continuing to the Ranch.  As it turned out we decided to go all the way.  Lela drove a couple hours through NM, which gave me a chance to close my eyes and rest. When I resumed the driving duties we had 5 hours to go.  All in all it was an 1180 mile trek which took 18.5 hours. We were pretty well bushed.

Sunset entering AZ

Friday Jan. 15
The unpacking and organizing took most of the day.  Lela worked to organize closets and kitchen, while I worked on the outside setting up patio stuff and moving other things into the shed.

Then I set up the satellite receiver and worked to get the TV system up and running.  It didn't go too well.  I spent a lot of time on the phone with Dish Network. It is sort of working now, but they are sending me a new "card" to see if that will resolve the problems I am having.

Lela is currently at Fry's Supermarket to stock our fridge. I did my online banking and am writing this entry.  It is kind of a slow go as AT&T data is slow where we are.

Saturday Jan. 16
We heard from Gary and Lou that they were in Queen Creek on their way home from Hawaii.

Gary and Lou

Gary was a classmate of ours in High School.

 

We managed to get together with them and their friend Jenita and Dan who live here. We had lunch at a café near us named Daily Bread Bistro. http://www.thedailybreadbistro.com/

On the Patio at the Bistro

Saturday was also the day we celebrated Nicolas' (Grandson) birthday.  We were invited to his house for BBQ chicken and burgers. Zac (grandson) did the chicken and Junior did the burgers.  After dinner we watched an exciting playoff game between the Cardinals and the Packers.  The Cards won in overtime.  It was very exciting watching with the boys.

Nicolas @ 14 

Grandma, Grammy and Nic

Sunday Jan. 17 (today)
We attended worship this morning at the Queen Creek Church of Christ. http://www.cocqc.com/
The website is under construction. Everyone was very glad to see us. Our home congregation sent a generous check to aid in the support of this new congregation.  We are very grateful.

Sunday Afternoon
January 10, 2015

Jan. 6,Wednesday morning we awoke to a "little bit" of fog.

 

We have received a lot of rain here in the last week.  Lela and Noel spent the day cleaning and organizing around the house.  Patrick and I hung clothing bars in the closets.

Drew's closet

500 million...looser

The master bath has a grout floor with polished stones imbedded in it.  I cleared the hardened grout from the stones with nylon brushes in an electric drill.  It still needs to be cleaned with vinegar and water, after the walls are grouted and sealed.

Jan 7, Thursday was kind of a lazy day around the house.  Noel was working so not much got done around the house.  Lela fixed baked spaghetti and we just watched TV.

Rain tonight came measured in buckets.  The Drive way is only dirt as it has been too wet to even pour rock as it just disappears in the soil here.  When it dries out there will eventually be concrete.

Jan 8, Friday We accomplished a few odds and end jobs.  The highlight of the day was the steak dinner we had.  We were all stuffed and zoned out on the couch watching a movie when Patrick decided to make dessert.  It was very good; fried banana and ice cream.  Even though we were "full," we all ate it up.  More rain overnight.  I was able to get some pictures of the house in the afternoon.

Looking North

Looking East

North side where the Airstream (Silver Star) has a concrete Pad

With water, sewer and 30 Amp power.

Back side will eventually have a deck/

3 door garage with 12 ft ceiling

Garage is under the whole house.

Jan 9, Saturday We had all been cooped up because of rainy weather, so we decided to head out.  We wanted to see what kind of handgun would be the best for Lela, so we went to Able Guns and Ammo in Conroe TX.  We did not find much in our price range, although we did get some helpful information. http://www.ableammo.com/

Then on the way home the girls wanted to stop at Annette's Antiques just off the highway.  It proved to be an interesting stop.

'57 Chevy stuck in the front

Soda fountain inside.

Then it was Wing Stop for dinner.  We had the family pack of 50 wings, Hawaiian style, very tasty.

Then home for NFL playoff games.

900 Million Dollar...looser

Jan 10, Sunday, This morning we headed to the Montgomery Church of Christ.
http://www.cofcmontgomery.org/home.htmle is a very interesting man.

We went to lunch at The Old Montgomery Steak House in the old part of town.  Chicken fried chicken was the diet buster today, but it was good.

John Wayne pictures on all the walls.

Need work?  Help wanted.

 

Then back home.  Lela cut drawer liners and I hung some things on the walls.

Antique wash stand they bought last year in Roundtop, TX

Patrick put a copper wash basin in it.

Utility Cabinet in Guest Bathroom matches wash basin.

As I write this the girls have gone "out."  Patrick has pulled some fence posts with the tractor and is now at his mother's house to help her with her furnace as we may get a freeze tonight. I am watching NFL playoffs.